A White Garden

“White…is not a mere absence of color; God paints in many colours, but He never paints so gorgeously as when He paints in white.”~G.K. Chesterton

Good morning dear friends! It is so good to see you this morning. Grab your coffee or tea, and join me for a stroll through, ‘A White Garden!’

White Wisteria

The inspiration for today’s post came from two different women ~ both loved white in the garden. The first woman of inspiration is my dear mom. She did so enjoy seeing white in the garden. And I loved her white Bridal-Wreath Spiraea. To stand in the spring and gaze upon the massive, roughly 40-foot section, of gorgeousness in her garden backed with luscious Canadian Hemlocks, was nothing short of magical.

Bridal-Wreath Spiraea

It is interesting, as I look back on my first gardening days and think about what I enjoyed. Then, it was all about color and more color. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love and have many colors in our garden. However, I have come to enjoy the softness white adds. Just as a point of information, according to color experts, a preference for white often forms in ones middle age years.

White azaleas blooming in a well-established garden.

I do love lilacs and a white lilac in full bloom can make a huge visual impact. Oh, the fragrance, certainly you smell them.

Tell me, what do you think of this planting of Astilbe? I have always been partial to pink Astilbe, but this mass planting of white is fabulous, in my opinion. Astilbe loves the shade and really loves to be watered. It contributes a distinct texture to a garden with its tall, feathery plumes. White flowers seem to have a cooling effect, especially on hot summer days. And they almost glow in the evening, making them a perfect plant for along walkways or a patio.

“The more one gardens, the more one learns; And the more one learns, the more one realizes how little one knows.” ~ Vita Sackville-West

White wisteria cascading over the garden wall of Sissinghurst.

The second woman of inspiration is the famous gardener, Vita Sackville-West. My mom introduced me to Ms. Sackville-West through books. Mom had studied her garden designs, especially her White Garden at Sissinghurst. Should you not be familiar with Sissinghurst, Sissinghurst Castle Garden in the Weald of Kent in England at Sissinghurst village is owned and maintained by the National Trust. It is among the most famous gardens in England. The garden was created in the 1930’s by Ms. Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. She was a poet and a gardening writer, her husband was an author and a diplomat. The garden is designed as a series of rooms, each with a different main color/theme. One of the rooms or gardens is a white garden. Only the colors of white, green, grey and silver are grown in this pale garden. Therefore, creating the lovely White Garden, one of the most famous garden areas of Sissinghurst.

The following are words from the National Trust ~ “Creating one colour borders and gardens was something that appealed to Vita. She had already created the Cottage Garden with its narrow range of ‘hot’ colours and relished the idea of another opportunity to experiment with colour. She understood that when colour was restricted, the focus of the gardener had to be on creating interest and drama with different shapes, textures, and form. The all-important structure with yew and box hedging was created, allowing the white flowers and silver foliage to shine out against the dark background. In her plans, Vita imagined a low sea of grey clumps of foliage, pierced here and there with tall white flowers.”

“A good start in life is as important to plants as it is to children: they must develop strong roots in a congenial soil, otherwise they will never make the growth that will serve them richly according to their needs in their adult life.” ~ Vita Sackville-West

I would like to share, a few of the beauties planted in the White Garden at Sissinghurst.

Tulip, White Dream

Delphinium, Snowgoose and White Foxgloves

Anemone, Honorine Jobert

Clematis, Duchess of Edinburgh

I also thought you may enjoy the poetic writing of Ms. Stackville-West regarding her beloved White Garden. With her lovely words, she transports me to this garden ~ I sincerely hope she does you, too.

“The white-and-grey garden begins to look well in June, when the little avenue of Almond trees down the centre is draped with the lacy white festoons of Rosa filipes and the genuine old ‘Garland’ Rose, and when generous plantings of Lilium regale come up through the grey Artemisia and silvery Cineraria maritima; but it is perhaps at its best a little later on, when the great metallic-looking Onopordons have grown up, and clouds of Gypsophila ‘Bristol Fairy’ throw a veil round the pencils of a white Veronica, and a few belated white Delphiniums and white Eremuri persist, rising among this grey foliage, with the grey willow-leaved Pyrus salicifolia sheltering the grey leaden statue of a Vestal Virgin.”

Clearly, I have not begun to touch the surface of the fabulous variety of plants in the White Garden or of the extraordinary talents of the designer. But, I hope you have, perhaps, formed an impression of the multitude of magnificent things growing there ~ creating glorious beauty.

“The Earth is crammed with heaven.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Casa Blanca Lilies in bloom at ‘Maison De Jardin’

I do not want to take all your time this morning so I will close by saying, “I hope you have enjoyed your visit. Perhaps you may have found a bit of inspiration for your own garden ~ possibly viewing white through new eyes.”

Wishing you a most beautiful day!

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Note: Images~ Pinterest, Tumblr, and S. Lambiotte

Unless otherwise stated, I do not claim ownership of these photos. These photos are the work of tremendously talented people and I simply compiled them for your enjoyment.

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Your white garden post is exquisite. Loved the photos and fell in love with the white astilbes bed. Wow!!! Like you, I love pink astilbe (and have some in our garden) but that white mass planting knocked my socks off. And to see Vita’s garden! Rick and I went visited it in 2016 and it was fabulous. We so enjoyed our day there, certainly not long enough. That’s where I wish we lived nearer to see it and other of our favourite gardens at various times over a year. It was quite lovely to catch a glimpse of her beautiful… Read more »

Sandra, this is an absolutely gorgeous post! Your mother’s bridal wreath is stunning! I love all the white flowers! You have assembled a lovely compilation of white gardens. I’ve been thinking about adding astilbe to my shade garden and now you have convinced me to find a spot for it.
I’ve been dreaming of a garden trip tour to England for a few years. Sissinghurst is on my bucket list.
I had to chuckle reading Ms Sackville West quote about learning since I well relate!

Good Morning, Bonnie. So good to see you. I have been dreaming of a trip to England also and to see Sissinghurst would be wonderful, especially in the spring. I, too, well relate to Ms. Sackville-West’s quote about gardening. Truer words were never spoken, in my opinion.

Sandra, I really love a white garden with green! My azaleas are white, as are my anemone (as you have pictured here). I think it’s why I’m enjoying the limelight hydrangea so much also. I added a few lavender plants in white simply because I was unable to find the namesake color one year. These are beautiful images, and they captures some plant varieties I did not know come in white (wisteria, lilac). Very nice inspiration to ponder!

Thanks, Rita for your words and your visit. I am looking forward to our limelight blooming. It has set on its blooms – will be a show in August. I enjoy that because everything else is pretty well finished. Have a great week! Rita, a beautiful white lilac is one named Beauty of Moscow.

Sandra, I love a white garden. There is something about the white against all of the green that is enchanting. I must plant a Bridal Wreath, I think their cascading is ethereal. I would love a garden trip to England. Your mom was a true gardener who taught you well. Thank you sweet friend for this lovely post!

Oh, Pam you must have a Bridal-Wreath. Several of them together, actually and you have the room for them. They are fabulous and often I see them cut into a box – dreadful. Yes, mom was a true gardener and I learned so very much from her. Truly, I was blessed beyond measure.

Thank you for your visit and your very kind comments. You are a treasured friend!

Stacey, thanks so much for your visit and I am happy you enjoyed the post. We lived for many years in coastal Virginia and the heat and the humidity there was plenty for me. I had a good friend there who was from Texas and when I was complaining of the heat, she would tell me it wasn’t even hot. I know gardening there would be a challenge.

I enjoyed being part of the party – always so much inspiration to enjoy!

Jann, yes white does have an impact – it took me quite a while to understand that because I think we are all instantly drawn to the gorgeous colors of the garden world. Thanks so much for your visit – come again, soon!

Sandra, you always create the most beautiful and inspiring posts! Your photographs are beautiful! White flowers are a classic and always look striking in a garden. My mom adores white flowers. In fact some 24 years ago she persuaded me to use all white flowers for my wedding. Enjoy your weekend, sweet friend!!!

Shannon, thanks so much for your kind words and your visit. Our moms knew what they were doing with regard to the white flowers. It took me a while to understand the impact they do make. I know your wedding flowers must have been gorgeous. Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend !